Switch contact positioning assembly

An assembly for containing proper positioning of an electrical contact terminal within a switch housing, and comprising:

• moveable contact means arranged for projection along an axis extending through said switch;
• contact terminal means arranged in a predetermined location in said switch assembly for selective engagement with said moveable contact means when said moveable contact means reaches a predetermined position along said axis;
• said contact terminal means comprising a plurality of attached portions, with at least two of said portions extending in at least one plane lying generally across the line of travel of said moveable contact means and having longitudinal axes forming a sufficient angle to one another whereby one of said portions, when deflected by said moveable contact means, can cause torsional strain in at least one of the remaining portions;
• and
• a pocket means arranged in said switch housing for enclosing and immobilizing a further portion of said contact terminal means to maintain said plurality of attached portions in said predetermined locations within said switch housing prior to deflection by said moveable contact means.

An assembly for maintaining accurate positioning of an electrical contact terminal within a switch assembly and comprising:

• a moveable contact means arranged for projection along an axis extending through said switch assembly;
• first contact terminal means arranged for selective electrical engagement with said moveable contact means only when said moveable contact means reaches a predetermined position along said axis;
• second contact terminal means arranged for continuous electrical engagement with said moveable contact means to selectively provide an electrical circuit between said first and second contact terminal means;
• and
• a post member extending within a recess formed in said switch and including slot means arranged for receiving a portion of said second contact terminal means to maintain said second contact terminal means in proper alignment relative to said moveable contact.

An assembly for maintaining proper electrical contact between a pair of relatively moveable electrical contacts arranged within a switch housing assembly, and comprising:

• a moveable contact means arranged for projection along an axis extending through said switch, and having interior wall means extending about a space which is at least partially enclosed by said wall means;
• a first contact terminal means positioned for providing substantially continuous electrical engagement with said moveable contact means,
• said first contact terminal means including a portion projecting into the space at least partially enclosed by said interior wall means of said moveable contact means, said portion having a spring tab extending into sliding engagement with said interior wall means to provide electrical connection therebetween;
• and
• a second contact terminal means positioned for selective engagement with said moveable contact means when said moveable contact means reaches a predetermined position along said axis.

A pushbutton switch for electrically breaking a previously established electrical circuit between a pair of contact terminals prior to establishing a different electrical circuit between a pair of contact terminals, and comprising:

• a housing including a barrel portion with an axis extending therethrough and a head portion attached to an end of the barrel portion, said head portion extending generally transverse to said axis;
• a cover secured to said head portion with first, second and third separate contact terminals secured, in electrically non-contacting relation, between said head and cover;
• a moveable contact projectable along said axis toward an end portion of said second contact terminal positioned on one side of said moveable contact, said moveable contact further being projectable in an opposite direction along the axis toward an end portion of said third contact terminal positioned on a further, opposite side of said moveable contact;
• coil spring means extending between a portion of said first contact terminal and a surface of said moveable contact for biasing said moveable contact along said axis toward a predetermined stable position;
• and
• a projection member extending from said first contact terminal into said coil spring means for preventing inadvertent misalignment of said coil spring means relative to said first contact terminal.